Chapman University

Dale E. Fowler School of Law

Degrees & Programs 
  • JD
  • JD Certificate Programs
  • Joint Degrees: JD|MFA
  • Joint Degrees: JD|MBA
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    FACULTY

    Meet our Faculty

    Fowler School of Law boasts a world-class faculty recognized nationally and internationally. They include three former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, a Nobel laureate, a former U.S. Congressman, leading legal scholars and former law partners. Our clinical and practice specialists are passionate educators working in a variety of legal specialty areas, leading classrooms that are characterized by encouragement, not intimidation.

    Fowler School of Law boasts a world-class faculty recognized nationally and internationally. They include three former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, a Nobel laureate, a former U.S. Congressman, leading legal scholars and former law partners. Our clinical and practice specialists are passionate educators working in a variety of legal specialty areas, leading classrooms that are characterized by encouragement, not intimidation.

    Meet our Faculty

    A Personalized Approach, an Education of Distinction

    A victorious compeition team pictured with their coach in one of Fowler School of Law's courtrooms

    An Education of Distinction

    With one of the best faculty-to-student ratios for ABA-accredited law schools, Fowler School of Law offers a legal education of distinction that pairs legal theory with real-world application, giving our graduates a deep understanding of professionalism.

    Learn more about our Academic Programs

    Externship students gaining valuable, practical experience

    Bar Exam Preparation

    Second to none, our Bar Exam Preparation team provides exceptional support to our bar-takers with group preparation, practice exams, feedback sessions and more, ensuring our graduates are positioned to start their legal careers with their best foot forward.

    Learn more about Bar Exam Preparation

    Law students working on their career advancement

    Career Excellence

    From the very beginning of the 1L year, students partner with career advisors for mentorship and career planning. Employers value the balance our graduates bring, from the practical training they possess to the professionals they become.

    Learn more about our Career Services Office

    Providing the Groundwork for a Lifetime of Legal Service

    A victorious compeition team pictured with their coach in one of Fowler School of Law's courtrooms

    Competitive Advocacy

    Many Chapman students participate on our award-winning lawyering skills teams, traveling throughout the United States and abroad to compete against other top law schools. Chapman students compete in one or more of these areas: Appellate Moot Court, Mock Trial, or Dispute Resolution.

    Learn more about Competitive Advocacy at Chapman

    Externship students gaining valuable, practical experience

    Externship Opportunities

    Through our externship program, students gain real-world experience working for judges, government agencies, corporations, public interest organizations, private law firms, and more, developing a range of practical skills to help them transition into the legal workplace after graduation.

    Learn more about Externship Opportunities

    Clinic Students in a practical session

    Experiential Clinics

    In each of our legal clinics, students work on real cases under the supervision of clinical faculty members. In our experiential clinics students learn hands-on, practical legal skills, gaining valuable experience in a range of areas, from document preparation to research and brief writing and even court appearances.

    Learn more about Experiential Clinics

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    Leadership

    Meet the Dean

    Dr. Paul Paton leads the Fowler School of Law with over thirty years of experience as a practicing lawyer, senior political advisor, professor and university administrator. He is recognized internationally by the profession and academy as an expert in regulation and professional responsibility for lawyers, ethics in corporate contexts, multidisciplinary practice and business structures, the future of legal education and corporate governance issues.

    Dr. Paul Paton leads the Fowler School of Law with over thirty years of experience as a practicing lawyer, senior political advisor, professor and university administrator. He is recognized internationally by the profession and academy as an expert in regulation and professional responsibility for lawyers, ethics in corporate contexts, multidisciplinary practice and business structures, the future of legal education and corporate governance issues.

    Meet the Dean
    ALUMNI

    Alumni on the Move

    Our alumni are found in trial and appellate courtrooms–on the bench and in front of it. They fill the offices of law firms and a variety of industries, ranging from real estate and legal aid to pharmaceticals and video game development. We may have strong ties to the Southern California legal community but our graduates find remarkable opportunities across the United States and the globe.

    Portrait of Kaitlin Peterson
    Alumni on the Move: Kaitlin Peterson
    Alumni on the Move: Kaitlin Peterson
    Returning to Fowler School of Law as an adjunct professor this spring is double Panther alumna Kaitlin Peterson (JD/MBA ’16), currently working as associate general counsel at US multinational tech conglomerate Meta, bringing a wealth of experience in gaming, IP and entertainment law to campus.

    Returning to Fowler School of Law as an adjunct professor this spring is double Panther alumna Kaitlin Peterson (JD/MBA ’16), currently working as associate general counsel at US multinational tech conglomerate Meta, bringing a wealth of experience in gaming, IP and entertainment law to campus.

    Returning to Fowler School of Law as an adjunct professor this spring is double Panther alumna Kaitlin Peterson (JD/MBA ’16), currently working as associate general counsel at US multinational tech conglomerate Meta, bringing a wealth of experience in gaming, IP and entertainment law to campus.
    Returning to Fowler School of Law as an adjunct professor this spring is double Panther alumna Kaitlin Peterson (JD/MBA ’16), currently working as associate general counsel at US multinational tech conglomerate Meta, bringing a wealth of experience in gaming, IP and entertainment law to campus.
    Ray Gennawey: A Commitment to Public Service
    Ray Gennawey: A Commitment to Public Service
    Ray Gennawey’s (JD ’14) journey from a law student at Chapman University to the Mayor of Laguna Niguel and a prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) reveals a steadfast commitment to public service and justice.

    Ray Gennawey’s (JD ’14) journey from a law student at Chapman University to the Mayor of Laguna Niguel and a prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) reveals a steadfast commitment to public service and justice.

    Ray Gennawey’s (JD ’14) journey from a law student at Chapman University to the Mayor of Laguna Niguel and a prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) reveals a steadfast commitment to public service and justice.
    Ray Gennawey’s (JD ’14) journey from a law student at Chapman University to the Mayor of Laguna Niguel and a prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) reveals a steadfast commitment to public service and justice.
    Portrait of alumnus Fowler School of Law Lance Cotton
    Alumni on the Move: Lance Cotton
    Alumni on the Move: Lance Cotton
    Lance Cotton’s (JD ’19) journey from the youngest of four siblings to becoming a Deputy District Attorney for the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office is a testament to perseverance, community, and a deep commitment to justice.

    Lance Cotton’s (JD ’19) journey from the youngest of four siblings to becoming a Deputy District Attorney for the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office is a testament to perseverance, community, and a deep commitment to justice.

    Lance Cotton’s (JD ’19) journey from the youngest of four siblings to becoming a Deputy District Attorney for the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office is a testament to perseverance, community, and a deep commitment to justice.
    Lance Cotton’s (JD ’19) journey from the youngest of four siblings to becoming a Deputy District Attorney for the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office is a testament to perseverance, community, and a deep commitment to justice.
    More Alumni News

    FOWLER SCHOOL OF LAW NEWS

    The Latest News Headlines from the School

    Read our News Stories

    Photograph of the four Fowler School of Law graduates pictured with Deans Heenan and paton, who will be service in the JAG corps after graduationClass of 2025: Four Fowler Grads for JAG

    Fowler School of Law’s Class of 2025 boasts a remarkable cohort of recent graduates, including a group of four graduates who have chosen to dedicate themselves to serving their country through roles in the JAG Corps of the various branches of our military.

    Photo of Justice Delaney at the Class of 2025 commencement ceremonyJustice Delaney Named 2025 FSOL Commencement Speaker

    As the academic year draws to a close, it is time to celebrate the Class of 2025 and their remarkable achievements. This year, we are honored to have as our commencement speaker a frequent guest, great friend and supporter of our school, the Honorable Thomas A. Delaney.

    Poster for the CLR 2025 SymposiumChapman Law Review's 2025 Symposium, "Raiders of the Lost Art" is a Resounding Success

    The 2025 Fowler School of Law annual Chapman Law Review Symposium brought together legal scholars, historians, journalists, and art law advocates to discuss looted art repatriation, accountability, and cultural restitution under the symposium marquee of, “Raiders of the Lost Art: Legal Challenges and Recoveries.”

    More Fowler School of Law News
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    Faculty News

    Fowler School of Law Professor Embedded in Ukraine

    Professor John Hall spent the summer of 2023 embedded with the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group in Ukraine, where he witnessed first-hand the impact of the war on Ukrainian culture. For Hall, a routinely overlooked aspect of the war remains the systematic destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage sites that seem to be deliberately targeted by the Russian army. 

    Read Professor Hall's Op-ed about the attack on Ukrainian culture on the school blog.

    Professor John Hall spent the summer of 2023 embedded with the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group in Ukraine, where he witnessed first-hand the impact of the war on Ukrainian culture. For Hall, a routinely overlooked aspect of the war remains the systematic destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage sites that seem to be deliberately targeted by the Russian army. 

    Read Professor Hall's Op-ed about the attack on Ukrainian culture on the school blog.

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